The WTA event this week in Eastbourne features an unusually strong field for a pre-Slam event, including last year’s Wimbledon Elena Rybakina, who will make her debut this Monday. But even aside from Rybakina, there’ll be plenty of high level players in action, as well as potentially very tight and high-quality matches.
WTA Eastbourne Day 1 Predictions
Sorana Cirstea vs Ana Bogdan
Head-to-head: Bogdan 2-1 Cirstea
Bogdan might have the head-to-head lead, but Cirstea won when their pair last faced five days ago on grass. It was a very tight match and the same is to be expected here in Eastbourne, but it’s far to say that Cirstea goes in with a slight edge, in a match that’s likely to be decided by small details.
Predictions: Cirstea in 3
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Daria Kasatkina vs Anhelina Kalinina
Head-to-head: Kasatkina 2-1 Kalinina
Both players have had disappointing grass seasons so far and will be looking to turn that around this week and gain some momentum for Wimbledon. The pair faced last year on grass in Berlin and Kasatkina won in a relatively comfortable three setter. She should be considered the favorite here too, even if a tight contest is to be expected.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
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Madison Keys vs Linda Fruhvirtova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Grass seems to be Keys’s worst surface, with Wimbledon the only Slam where she’s yet to make a semifinal, and Fruhvirtova has played quite a bit on the surface already this year even if without great success. However, Keys is still generally a clearly superior player and should be able to prevail here.
Prediction: Keys in 3
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Elena Rybakina vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: Rybakina 2-0 Wang
On paper, this is the most one-sided match of the day. Rybakina didn’t live up to expectations last week in Berlin, but she’s the defending Wimbledon champion for a reason and is the favorite to win Eastbourne this week for sure. Wang has played decently so far on grass this year, but she is unlikely to pose a serious obstacle to Rybakina.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
